Grateful for You

This is my 7th and perhaps last card for the Spring and Summer Coffee Lovers Hop. 

This card was made with my Silhouette Studio software and the digital image, Teacup Cocoa, from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I loaded the image into the software and coloured in the different parts with the program. I also added a background pattern. It's hard to see on the screen, as it's quite subtle. Then I printed it, added a yellow mat and adhered it to a white card base. 

I added the sentiment, from Gina K. Designs Little Thoughts stamp set, with Gina's Jet Black Amalgam ink. I added the heart sequin for a finishing touch.

The card I added to the hop a few minutes ago was #837. The hop goes until Friday, so I'm sure there will be a few hundred more by then!

Sweet Friend

Here's another card for the Spring and Summer Coffee Lovers Hop.

I used the free digital image from STAMPlorations again for this card. Even though it wasn't printed on watercolour paper, I did a bit of watercolouring. I used some ink cubes (Gina K. Designs Powder Blue, Blue Denim, Wild Dandelion, Grass Green) and smooshed them onto an acrylic block. Then I wet the paper, picked up some of the colour with a waterbrush and added the ink to the paper. I set this aside to dry thoroughly.

I wanted a soft background so it wouldn't overwhelm the main image, so I used Gina K. Designs 

Lovely Lavender ink with the ARTplorations All Blooms stencil.

I cut out the coffee cup and taped it to the background. The sentiment is from the Gina K. Designs Sweet Camellia stamp, stamped with Powder Blue ink, and adhered with some foam squares.

I am also entering this in the STAMPlorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge.

But First, Coffee!

I have a few more cards for the Coffee Lovers Hop. This is card #5.

For this card, I started by stenciling the background with a Swirl Background stencil by Plaid Folk Art using Gina K. Designs Warm Cocoa ink. The images I used are from a printable file from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called A Latte Jesus. I cut them out and used the Warm Cocoa ink to rub on the edges. I used some foam squares to adhere the coffee cup.

Coffee Cup

Here is my fourth card for the Coffee Lovers Hop. This time I used a free digital image from STAMPlorations, by Shery Russ.

I printed the image on Spectrum Noir Smooth cardstock and coloured it with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers: BP1, BP2, BP3, BP4, LV1, LV2, LV3, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, AG2, AG3, AG4. I cut it out and attached it to a card base. Then I cut around it to create a mug shaped card. 

I am also entering this in the STAMPlorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge.

Coffee Wreath

It's time for the Coffee Lovers Spring and Summer Blog Hop! You need to have a caffeinated element, but it can be coffee, tea, cocoa or hot apple cider.

This is my third card.

I made a rainbow wreath of summer coffee drinks, using my MISTI and the wreath builder. I added it to a blue mat and then a white card base. I stamped the sentiment, cut it out and added a bit of ink around the edge to give it some definition. I adhered it with some foam squares and then added some flower sequins.

Supplies used:
Gina K. Designs: Wreath builder
                            Perfect Blend stamp set
                            Ink: Bubblegum Pink, Red Velvet, Tangerine Twist, Wild Dandelion, Key Lime,                                             Turquoise Sea, Blue Denim, Wild Lilac, Jet Black Amalgam
                            White, Turquoise Sea cardstock
Cottage Cutz Stitched Circle die

Thanks a Latte

It's time for the Coffee Lovers Spring and Summer Blog Hop! You need to have a caffeinated element, but it can be coffee, tea, cocoa or hot apple cider.

Here is my second card.

This is an easy one layer card. I stamped the STAMPlorations Coffee Cup Parade stamp with  Memento Tuxedo Black ink at the bottom of the card front. I thought that the decoration around the coffee cups looked like citrus slices, so I used that as inspiration for the colours I used.

I used a blending brush to add the ink (Gina K. Designs Tangerine Twist and Wild Dandelion) to the background and coloured the decoration with a green coloured pencil. The flowers on the cups were stamped with a stamp from the Gina K. Designs Autumn Wreath Builder stamp set, with Tangerine Twist, Lemon Drop and Key Lime ink.

The CUTplorations Thanks a Latte die was used to cut the sentiment from black cardstock and was glued to the card to finish it off.

When I added my last card, I was #498 in the blog hop! Last fall, there were over 1000 cards, so there is lots of inspiration.

Less Monday More Coffee

It's time for the Coffee Lovers Spring and Summer Blog Hop! You need to have a caffeinated element, but it can be coffee, tea, cocoa or hot apple cider.

Here is my first card.

I used the Gina K. Designs Perfect Blend stamp set, stamping the background with Gina K. Designs Warm Cocoa and Sandy Beach ink. After stamping the sentiment, I cut it out with a die from the Gina K. Designs Decorative Label die set. To make the pink layer, I traced around the outside of the die and fussy cut it out. I popped up the sentiment with some foam squares.

There are lots of prizes from some great sponsors. I hope you check it out!

You Brighten My Day

I made a window card that I am entering in two challenges: Splitcoaststampers MISTI Monday May challenge - Summer Peek-a-boo (we have to make a card with a window through to the inside); and Gina K. Designs May Monthly Mix challenge - Lean On Me (we have to make a card of encouragement and a matching envelope).

To make this card, I stamped the flowers and leaves with my MISTI and cut them out with the coordinating dies. I used the Gina K. Designs Layered Daisies stamp set, and Sea Glass, Turquoise Sea, Ocean Mist, Tranquil Teal, Wild Dandelion, and Lucky Clover ink, also from Gina K. Designs. 

I cut out the flower shape from the front of the card and glued the matching flower to the inside, using the die cut window to line it up. On the front of the card, I arranged the other flowers and leaves around the window. Following a tip from Jennifer McGuire, I used Glad Press’n Seal to pick up the arrangement. This made sure that all the die cuts stayed together. I then die cut the same flower shape as the window from the middle of the arrangement. I added glue to the back of the die cuts and pressed them on to the front of the card, matching up the window shape. Once the glue was dry, I removed the Press'n Seal. 

I added the sentiment, and heat embossed it in clear. When you open the card, you see the single flower on the inside.

To finish, I stamped the flower on a Turquoise Sea envelope. 

Mother's Day Card

I made this card for a few challenges:
Mod Squad Challenge Blog - A Day for Mothers,
Splitcoaststampers MISTI Monday May Challenge - Summer Peek-a-Boo, and
Double D Challenges - Lavenders~Lilac~Purple Challenge.

When you open the card, you see more of the image.

I started with a piece of Gina K. Designs (GKD) heavy base weight white cardstock. I knew I was going to colour the image with alcohol markers, and they don't bleed through this cardstock. Using my MISTI, I stamped the flowers and bottle, from GKD Birthday Blessings, with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on the inside of the card. The MISTI allowed me to line everything up.

I coloured the image with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers: HB1, HB2, HB3, LG5, EB2, and IG2. I used IG1 to give a shadow at the bottom.

To make the window, I measured on the inside where I wanted the Cottage Cutz Stitched Square die to be and then taped it to the outside of the card and ran it through my Cuttlebug. I decided to make a frame, so I taped two of the square dies together, and then coloured the die cut frame with the alcohol markers.

I used the flourish from the GKD Made with Love stamp set and stamped it with GKD Lovely Lavender ink. I added some dots, from the GKD Mandala Maker, by Rina K. to match the dots in the flourish. I stamped the sentiment, from the GKD Holiday Frame Fillers, by Melanie Muenchinger, on the square that was cut out from the window. I used GKD Wild Lilac ink.

You can adapt this type of card for any occasion. I think it's fun to see part of the image through the window and then see the whole image when you look inside.

Pop-up Box Card

It's time for another Scor-Pal More Than One Score Challenge. This month, our theme is Feminine/ Mother's Day, or you can make an Anything Goes creation, as long as it follows the general rules.

I made a Pop-up Box card for Mother's Day.

I have seen these on Pinterest and people's blogs, but hadn't made one myself until now. It was easier than I thought!

To make this, these are the supplies you will need:

Cardstock: 7 1/2" x 9 1/4" 

Patterned Paper: I used Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight Brights Designer Series paper)

2-  5 1/4" x 1 7/8" (one patterned, and one plain for the back)

3-  2 3/4" x 1 7/8"

6-  2 1/4" x 1 7/8"

Embellishments as desired

Scor-Pal

Scor-Tape

With the 9 1/4" of your cardstock at the top of your Scor-Pal, score at 2 1/8", 4 1/4", 6 3/8" and 8 1/2". Cut off a 2" strip to give you a 2" x 9 1/4" piece. Place the original piece of cardstock with the short end at the top, and score at 2 1/2". Cut down to this score line, and cut off the top of the narrow piece at the end to create a tab. Add Scor-Tape to the tab.

From the 2" strip, cut off  a 3 5/8" piece from the end that has the scoring at 8 1/2". Cut this piece in half lengthwise, which will give you two pieces with  scoring at both ends. Add tape to the end tabs.

Add the patterned paper, placing the long pieces next to the tab. The 3 larger pieces will go on the bottom outside sections, so they will be on the same side as the tape in the above picture. Also, the plain long piece will be on this side.

Remove the backing from the tape, fold in the tab, and fold the card on the 4 1/4" line to attach it to the tab. Open the card to form the box and attach the two strips near the top. Place the end of the tabs against the front for one, and the back for the other. This will ensure that the strips are straight. 

Decorate the box as you wish. I used Stampin' Up! Secret Garden and Flower Shop stamps and the coordinating dies and punch for the flowers and leaves. They were stamped with Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight; Gina K. Designs Wild Lilac, Bubblegum Pink and Grass Green ink. The sentiment was from Gina K. Designs Holiday Frame Fillers, by Melanie Muenchinger, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I used a 1 1/2" circle punch and a 1 3/4" scalloped circle punch for the sentiment.

The card folds flat to fit in an A2 envelope, so make sure that your embellishments don't stick out past the edges of the card.

Since this was my first one, I kept it fairly simple. You can use acetate strips to give some of your embellishments movement, or use strips of cardstock to give more height. I hope you give this a try!